New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-19
BEAUTIFUL SHEEP IN THE PARK.
Mr.. CoNKLIN TALKS OF HIS soUrHDowNs

UNABLE TO ADVERTISE THEM IN NEWSPAPER
THE COLLIE THAT TAKES CARE OF THE FLOCK.
That part of Central Park which is currently known
as the Ball Ground, but which the Park Off cals call
the Green, only open the public the afternoons
/ OF wednesday ana the mornings and afternoons of
Saturday On all other days 1t belongs to the flock of
SOuthdOwn sheep which the Park Commissioners
obtained more than twenty years ago.
Those people who have implicit faith In the Park
Board believe that the unquestioned improvement in
the ity of the mutton in New York markets is be
traced directly to this There butchers
both In Washington and Fulton Markets who devote
themselves entirely to the mutton business and they
agree that there has been a wonderful development
but they refuse to commit themselves to the
OF it, For nerly they say, the from Liverpool
brought carcasses for the special beneft of
downtown eating house keeper who made specially
OF English mutton chops. And now the mutton in the
New-fork markets is considered as good as English.
SuDorntendent Conkiin has 10 doubt at all about
the matter He not only in charge of the menagere,
but he Il also the chief shepherd though the actual
shepherding Is done by tall man named Conway,
who sort of uniform and may generally be
seen in the neghborhood of the Bali Ground attended
by fine collie answering to the name of Tom. He
answers to this far too readily to please his MASTER
melancholy man with sweet voice. who deprecates
with sad politeness the attentions which colelovng
young ladies shower upon him.
They call Tom. Tom,' and he comes running up to
them with his beautiful tail curling like gay ostrich
feather, and they throw their around him and
hug him and describe oil his good points his face,
while the shepherd looks with 10y dsdain,
times going far to suggest to the cllprits
that they spelling bis dog, whose legitimate
patton is to look after sheep Shepherd Conway 6rm
y believes that Tom understands all that is said to
him and about him, and he fears that the lattering
remarks that are ma 10 about him, and particularly
about his tail will make him conceited and undermine
that rugged simplicity and fidelity which the
characteristics OF good collies.
Superintendent COnklin also believes that Tom
understand Is what is said to him. Before be was
thoroughly ms tailed IN his present important office
caretakcr OF the Central Park SOuthdOwns Tom was
given away by Mr. Conklin to a gentleman who has
a villa farm in the neigh borhood of ralrytown
81 went up" said Mr.. Conklin to Tribune
reporter, to this genemans place Saturday last
year. aud Tom expressed the greatest sfaction
seeing Ny friend showed all his property,
and Tom rather annoyed me by sticking little too
closely to my legs so said to him Go home sir. and
he made off, Judge Of my astonishment wnen came
to the Park on the following Monday TO find Tom
waiting for wagging that teahery tail OF his and
showing the most unbounded satisfaction. had not
the heart to send him back, but kept him and gave
him his present. position"
4" Is it very onerous one, Superintendent ~
The flock consists of ninety and eigbty-eight
lambs and one ram, Pzarro purchased from Lord
Wasingham's famous flock"
1t has been suggested as the sheep have been in
{ he Park twenty odd years and have not become n
larger flock that the Commissioners eat few them"
"No indeed they are for breeding not Tor eating.
We sell of nearly all the lambs at public auction
every year, usually in the month OF june but
this year the sale will probably in August. Then
when a eve il six years old we sell her. aud by this
means we have none but vigorous breeders 10 their
prime"
: Do you think that the public knows much about
these yearly sales ~
We always put a large advertisement IN The
City Record"
SIS that the usual vehicle for the dissemination of
news Of special interest to agricururists and
breeders!'
"what am 1 to doY The Consolidation Act ex-
plicty states that the city advertising is to be done
In The City Record know as well as YOU do that
IL is utterly lost 1t could put the advertisement in
THE WEEKLY Tribune | have not the least doubt
that the Park would get from $50 to $50 for each
lamb Now We only get from $l2 to $I5. Those
who know of the flock get legal friends to tell them
when the advertisement appears, and they last give
what their conscience prompts, Tor We are at their
mercy. II bad the power to advertise the yearly
sales in two papers, tor example THE TBIBUNE
and The World.' there would be very lively COM
petition and the Park would be greatly benefited"
IL have observed, MI Superintendent, that there
are no black heads among your ho:k. thought that
was one of the points of a wcbred Shutdown
Ii used to be- but fashions change among breeders
as they do among ladies. The present style in
is chocolate colored head and legs and if
you examine the flock yoL will see that all sheep
arc OF the most fashionable appearance Our lambs
remarkably fins lot and it goes my heart to
think that cannot advertise the sale in business
like way 1t s Tor the public interest also that all
sheep breeders should know of these sales"
What will you do II the mensgeric is removed
Will you still retain your Office of c-ief shepherdW
" Certainly, SO long as the menagerie remans any
where within the Park or the jurisdiction OF the Park
Connie But the bill is not signed yet though
all the friends o. the menagere are praying for tho
signature"